[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 157 (Friday, September 11, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E824-E825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING EMORY ALTIZER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. H. MORGAN GRIFFITH

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 11, 2020

  Mr. GRIFFITH. Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of Emory Ralph Altizer 
of Cedar Bluff, Virginia, who passed away on August 29 at the age of 
99. Once recognized as America's oldest coal miner, Mr. Altizer 
represented the strong work ethic, spirit, patriotism, and faith that 
characterize the people of Virginia's Ninth Congressional District whom 
I am honored to serve.
  Mr. Altizer was a native of Tazewell County, born on August 12, 1921 
to William and Chloe

[[Page E825]]

Day Altizer. He graduated in 1940 from Richlands High School. He began 
his career in the coal mines of Southwest Virginia in the 1930s. He 
told Coal People Magazine in 2007 that the first time he entered an 
underground mine, he could stand up in low-seam coal. ``I was raised in 
mining,'' Mr. Altizer said. ``Don't know why I liked it. I just did.''
  Like many of his generation, his life was interrupted by World War 
II; also like so many, he proudly served, manning the tail gun of a 
Martin PBM Mariner flying boat stationed aboard the USS Chandeleur.
  After the war, he resumed his career in the coal mines, working at a 
succession of them over 68 years. He saw the industry change many 
times, but he remained dedicated to it. As he said to Coal People 
Magazine, ``I'm getting old, I know, and I realize someday I'm going to 
have to quit, but I don't want to. Don't want any handouts. If I ever 
thought I couldn't help, I would quit.''
  In 2012, when he stopped working in the mines at last at the age of 
91, he was recognized as America's oldest coal miner. He met then-
candidate Donald Trump in 2016, and I had the honor to meet Mr. Altizer 
several times as well.
  Mining was important to Mr. Altizer, but it wasn't the only thing. He 
was a charter member of the Richlands Tabernacle and attended Belfast 
Full Gospel Fellowship. He was married for 73 years to his wife Lila, 
and they had six children.
  Emory Altizer is survived by Lila, his children Danny, Dana, Diane, 
and Doug, thirteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, two 
great-great grandchildren, and his brother Landon. I would like to 
offer them my condolences. In a region that takes pride in its coal 
mining heritage, Emory Altizer became a legend.

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